Sumo is the name given to high stakes wrestling in Japan; it is now also one of the best up and coming bands in Southern
California. Music lines get blurred and genres take different forms and Sumo are doing their part.Timo, their aggressive and
multi talented vocalist, is making it happen up front. “We got together over eight years ago but within the last year we decided to get back together and make it happen.” Their sound is different to say the least, going from one style to another even
within one song.“I write each song about a particular person and I do not want to be confined to one style,” confided Timo.
“I like to think about my relationship with them and my experiences with them.” As far as their style is concerned, “I want
to be as diverse as possible and still sound like us which is what we wanted all along.” Audiences have been more than receptive to Sumo’s ambitions. “Our audiences really dig us and every person has their favorite song and it seems they are always
different.” The radio opportunities seem to be opening up as well. “We sent them a CD and they played it the next week
and also asked us to come and do their show as well,” Timo says after asking about being on the KROQ locals show. Sumo
mixes an eclectic blend of ‘70s alt pop with edgier ‘80s and ‘90s sounds along with today’s hardcore; diversification that any
listener can devour.
myspace.com/sumola
- by Jeffrey Easton

Kevin DuBrow, the controversial vocalist for
Quiet Riot, passed away in his Las Vegas home. He
was only 52. QR became the first metal band
to have a debut album hit #1. Kevin lived
very much in the “now” but he never
ceased paying tribute to his friend
and former bandmate, late guitar
legend Randy Rhoads. It’s nice to
know that they’re jamming
together again.

Sparkless?

2007 American Idol Jordin Sparks debuted on the
charts at #10.That’s pretty damn good but it’s
been panned for being the lowest entry to date
for an album by an Idol winner.With 119,000
copies sold, artists everywhere would probably
give their left nut to be in the Top 10 but in our
finicky society it’s deemed a failure. Go figure.

Silly Akon, Tossing’s for Salads

Young Abby Rosa said she suffered a concussion when hip hop
star Akon tossed a teenager off the
stage and onto her during a
concert.The incident was
later revealed to be staged,
however poor Abby wasn’t
in on the joke. Someone
always gets hurt in the manufacturing of bullshit!

Vintage Fad

A Christie’s auction of rock memorabilia made a
killing recently. How ‘bout $4,000 for a Rolling
Stones’ T-shirt? A 1973 Led Zeppelin shirt for
$1,625? Then there was the Yardbirds shirt worn
by a rock journalist to the 1967 Monterey Pop
Festival that brought $3,000! Wow! Who wants
to buy the Snoop Dogg shirt I wore to Hot Topic
in 1997?

REED DOLLAZ

For 21-year-old Reed Dollaz, hip hop is more than just a hobby; it’s a way of life. The Philadelphia native has been perfecting
his lyrical skills since he was 11, when his rapping mentor, Nino Brown, saw a musical flare in the young MC.“It was just something that came natural to me,” Reed says. “Everybody was rapping on the corners and stuff, so I was always surrounded by
it.” Reed Dollaz currently has the highest sold mixtapes in Philadelphia and the tri-state area but his success doesn’t stop
there. Having performed on BET’s 106 & Park on Freestyle Friday, Reed Dollaz is now signed to Beyond Bars Records and just
finished his first studio album, Then Came Reed. “I’m trying to bring something different to the game,” Reed describes. “I
don’t degrade women in my work and while everybody else is rapping about cars and jewelry, I’m bringing it back to the old
days when rap was about more of what’s going on in life.” Reed’s lyrical style and approach to hip hop is being recognized
across the nation, with the help of websites like MySpace and YouTube, where you can see videos of his various rap battles.
But success hasn’t changed this humble rapper from the streets.“Fame has only changed me for the good,” he says.“Yes, it’s
brought me things but other than that, I haven’t switched up on the people that helped me get here.” So, what’s next for hip
hop’s next big thing? “Only God knows.”
myspace.com/reeddollazmusic215
- by Kristie Berucci

4 6 SKINNIEMAGAZINE.COM | DEC. 2007

No, he’s not talking about Mexicans!

Morrissey is suing a UK magazine, claiming it took
a recent interview out of context, making him
appear racist. He was quoted as saying he would
no longer live in Britain because an “immigration
explosion” was stripping his native
land of its identity and went on
to elaborate. Big deal - if the
article insinuated Morrissey was
homophobic,THEN I would
question its validity!
skinniefortherecord@yahoo.com